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NORTH HAVERHILL — The criminal trial of the former Bristol police chief that was slated to begin today has been canceled after the state dropped the felony theft by deception charges.

Grafton County Attorney Marcie Hornick described indictments against Michael Lewis as defective, but indicated in court records that he will be re-indicted on three Class A felonies.

Lewis, 39, of Ashland, allegedly obtained more than $4,500 from the town of Bristol by either creating or reinforcing a false impression that he had worked overtime details when he had not. The crimes were alleged to have occurred at various times over a five-year period from July 1, 2012, to Dec. 31, 2017.

A former public defender with 15 years of experience, Hornick was elected as the county’s top prosecutor in November and assumed office in January.

The prosecution’s unwillingness to pursue charges against Lewis does not preclude the state from seeking new indictments on the same charges which, based on the notations made on the court record, is something Hornick intends to pursue.

Three misdemeanor charges remain pending against Lewis. He is facing alternate counts of sexual assault with aggravating circumstances or simple assault, charging that he fondled a woman’s buttocks in Bristol on Aug. 31, 2017. A final pretrial hearing in that case is now scheduled for Feb. 27.